Wal-Mart settles with families over listeria-tainted cantaloupes

By Keith Coffman DENVER (Reuters) – Wal-Mart has settled lawsuits with the families of 23 people who died from a 2011 listeria outbreak traced to cantaloupe grown at a Colorado farm and sold by the retailer, both sides said on Wednesday. The attorney for the families, Bill Marler, said the settlement was a \"piece of the puzzle\" to hold accountable all parties in the food supply chain who allowed the adulterated fruit to go to market. \"Both Wal-Mart and my clients are pleased to get this behind us,\" Marler said. Wal-Mart spokesman Randy Hargrove said all the tainted fruit was removed from its stores as soon as the chain became aware of the outbreak.